agents know they can trust me to turn up, not go not showing cleavage or shoulders, heels, spar-
off with guys at the events and thankfully they kly handbag, bling ear-rings plus of course the
also recognise that I am properly trained and biggest Jackie O’ sunglasses I can find.
not just a white girl prancing around in a belly
dance costume. The next stage to the ‘image’ is when I step out
of the car and/or airport and strut up to the agent
So, I made a plan. I started to observe and try to with hair flinging shampoo advert style. This act
suss things out. I have had to become an avid ensures I am more likely to get further bookings
social observer: I started to people watch....the and they have decided already that I’ve done
other artists, the agents, the audiences - if it was a brilliant show before I’ve even danced - bril-
all men at a corporate show, how did they re- liant!
act to my dancing? What level of corporate are
they? Does it make a difference? Which part of This image gives you what is seen as the ‘su-
India are they from, have they ever seen a white perstar’ look in India. If we are in Bombay or my
girl in the flesh before? If women are there, what husband Glen comes to a show with me we of-
caste are they? Families, weddings, filmy events ten get stopped for photos because people think
etc how does the reaction differ and what works we are famous (just by our clothing!) or they
best? want a picture with the man who has muscles
like Bruce Lee!
From the moment I step out of the car until I
leave a show I am judged on everything. The I noticed that anyone dressed similarly in air-
clothes I arrive in, my costumes, makeup, hair, ports is guaranteed to be a model, DJ, actor,
shoes, how pale or tanned I am, who I speak to singer or performer of some kind. I have met all
and for how long, if I drink alcohol - which alco- kinds of artists this way because its like a rec-
hol, can I understand and/or speak Hindi, do I ognisable dress code. They will know that I am
know and use Indian mannerisms, even if I eat involved in the same industry and will come and
veg or meat! speak to me, swapping business cards and the
possibility of networking for the future.
At first I found this impossible to accept and took
it personally, feeling like I taking part in an end- Other observations that have shocked me is the
less test and parade show. It felt so shallow and way Indian dancers are treated compared with
went against everything I stand for and believe the foreign dancers. We are paid more and often
in. treated with more respect simply because we
have fair skin. There is an obsession with white-
However, as time goes on and with my kids at ness, I have seen Indian girls with skin lighter
local schools, I have made more Indian friends than mine covering themselves in skin bleach
of all religions, became more involved with before a show in an effort to look whiter. The
events, managing my own shows, other artists girls also wear light coloured skin body suits un-
and a dance troupe I began to discover the way der their costumes in 40 degree heat! They can’t
that India works. If I wanted to continue working be seen to be drinking alcohol so they are al-
there I had to find a way around this that I was ways sending me to the bar because as a white
comfortable with and helps me to fit in……and woman it is acceptable for me to be served.
now in the village where I live everyone knows
when I am off to a show….. Friends often say to me how glamorous this all
sounds - it can be, but also living the reality it can
My driver really laughs at me. Gone is the usu- be very different. I am often travelling for long
al scruffy beach look, crocs, no make up and periods. One time I took twenty eight flights in a
messy hair. My show ‘uniform’ as I call it is pol- six week period (my longest journey was thirty
ished and with the aura of having stepped out of hours one way for a fifteen min show). Another
a Bollywood film. Eyebrows threaded precisely, time travelling for twelve hours with seven other
eyeliner, mascara, hair down (even if its so hot dancers and suitcases in a car meant for four
you want to die). Jeans (jeans are considered then waiting for ten hours in costume to perform
the coolest item of clothing in India), tightish top- and the worst - having to share a bed with one,
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